Gazprom Swan 60 Circuit - SGM in second after Fastnet Race

by Nautor's Swan on 20 Aug 2013 Swan 60 Bronenosec (RUS) remains at the top of the scoreboard after completing three out of the four events in the 2013 Gazprom Swan Class circuit; SGM (GER) will need to continue to close the six point gap to be in with a chance of being crowned the overall winner. The Delta Lloyd North Sea Regatta, Gazprom Swan 60 World Championship and Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week have provided an excellent selection of quality racing for the international fleet this year.

This one design class also finished minutes apart from each other after completing the extensive 611 mile Rolex Fastnet Race in three days and three hours sitting comfortably in fourth, fifth and sixth place within IRC Z. Petite Flamme (RUS) take the Gazprom Swan 60 Class Trophy for the Rolex Fastnet Race with their fourth overall position in IRC Class Z. The world’s largest and oldest offshore race, the Rolex Fastnet Race, is an iconic long distance race to complete for committed sailors. The youth on board SGM outwitted experience in one of the toughest races of the year for this competitive class.

SGM (GER) was first on the water to finish at 17:06 followed by circuit leaders Bronenosec (RUS) at 17:07. Petite Flamme (RUS) having pulled out a notable lead from the Fastnet rock rounding slipped back on the final home coming leg finishing at 17:08.

Helm on board SGM, Robert Stanjek, was full of energy at the finish commenting, 'We sat to weather of Bronenosec going into the last eight miles of the race, it was a good tactic blocking their wind. A mentally tough race we had youth on our side, I think the perfect sailor would be young in body but old in experience. Offshore racing is such a change from Olympic sailing, you don’t get to finish after 90 minutes, instead you have to keep pushing for three days, take your chances and be patient'.

Gazprom Swan 60 Class Circuit activity continues into the autumn months with the Nord Stream Race starting on the 15th September. For 2013 this offshore non-stop race from Flensburg, Germany direct to Saint Petersburg, Russia covers 800 miles as the final challenge in the 2013 Gazprom Swan 60 Class Circuit. This will be the farthest offshore race to date for this one design class.

Current Gazprom Swan 60 Class Circuit Results are as follows:

Bronenosec (RUS) 1 - 1 – 1 Total: 3
SGM (GER) 2 - 5 – 2 Total: 9
Knights of Crevichon (GBR) 6 - 2 – 6 Total: 14
Tsaar Peter (BVI) 6 - 3 – 6 Total: 15
Petite Flamme (RUS) 6 - 4 – 6 Total: 16
Gazprom Swan 60 Class